Container filling device



&669.406

1954 c. P. CAMPBELL CONTAINER FILLING DEVICE 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l Filed Sept. 27, 1949 I N VENTOR.

CHF/?LES R CHMPBELL,

w f /777`0RNEY`5 Feb. 16, 1954 c. P. CAMPBELL CONTAINER FILLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1949 A INVENTOR. I C//F/?L 56 MFSH BY p Patented Feb. 16, 1954 "T OFFICE ;GONTAIANER FILLING DEVICE This invention relates to the filling of portable eontainersand involvesanimproved device therefor. While capable of other uses the m roved device `s particularly useful 'in iacilitating the introduction -of -'foods into paper bags and cartons in which 'they are to ;be 'frozen and preserved.

One object of the invention isto provide a ontainer filling device to which containers can be conveniently applied preparatory to filling and which 'can be *readily Withdrawn 'from the containers after they arefilled.

Another object of ,theinventiongis to provide a container filling device which will 'avoid soling of themouths of containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container'lling device which is'invertible from upright tcontainer filling position to an upside down position removed from fillin position. In theilatter position containers may be readily applied to 'the device and also residual material in the device may bedrained therefrom.

In the art of home freezing foodssare placed in paper 'bags and eartons in 'which they are subsequently frozen for preservation in low temperature refrigeration units. 'The paper :bags are speciallyprocessed so that after filling the mouths may be heat sealed. *In order that a perfect seal may be Secured it is important that soiling of the interier of the 'bag mouths be avoided. 'such sailing is `likely to occur with conventional filling devices by 'contact with 'the lower edge upon which residual -food is likely to accumulate. Again, if `a funnel or equivalent filling ;device is *maintained in fixed position ;residual'food therein is likely'to drain downwardly between filling Operations -on itotthe supporting surfacegfor the containers with the result that the bottoms of the containers .ane likely to be soiled.

The filling device of the present invention has been designed with these considerations in mind. Furthermore, the device is designed to be employed with different size food containers and is made in knock-down form so that when disassembled the parts Will occupy a relatively small space, a real advantage both from the standpoint of packaging and storage. The various features and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the illustrative embodiment shown in the appended drawings and the description thereof to follow.

In such drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of my improved filling device;

i ='2 Lis a "side eleva'tion With the device in container applying and draining position;

fiFi g. 3 is -a corresponding side elevation 'with the 'device in position for filling containers;

Fig. {l is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section showing `the interorbottom Construction of the filling device and its relation to a container 'as it=is being removed from the mouth of -a contai-ner after the container has been filled;

Fig. 5 is a -top plan view of a 'filling device;

Fig. 6 is a rear-elevationthereof Fig. '7 is a horizontal section looking down showing `details -of the -lowerportion of the devicand,

`Fig. 8 is an exploded'view of the filling device with 'theiparts in 'disassembled position.

'The filling device includes a funnel "10 of generally rectangular cross-section and with downwardly tapering sides adapted to telescope 'into the mouth of bags for `frozen food and. except for its special features may be generally similar to unnels for such purpose now on the market. The same will be preferably const'ucted of stainless steel. Aluminum may be employed but it is :not as ciesirab'lebecause itis subject to attack by the `acids contained in various foods.

:Funnel I'll is demountably supported by an adjustable length standard adapted to support the funnel'in suitable positions for filling different height food bags. such standard includes a member H formed of a double length of sti wire and a channeled metal member 2! in which member 'H is telescopically slidable. `such parts are best shown 'in Figs. 7 and 8. The standard is demountably supported by base [3, preferably form-ed ofsheet metal ,with an upturned ear M formed thereon 'to telescopically fit the lower end of standard member z. The base is desirably made of ;genera rectangular shape and so as 'to provide supporting platforms on opposite sides of the standard. A direct hinge connection is provided between the funnel and the upper end of standard member l I so as to adapt the funnel for vertical swinging movement from upright bag filling position on one side of the standard to an inverted position on the opposite side of the standard. While any suitable hinge connection may be employed servng such purpose I prefer to employ the simple detachable hinge connection best shown in Fig, 8 comprsing a pair of hinge bearings ll and 18 Secured near the top of funnel side I5 and hinge pins !9 and 20 formed integrally with the upper end of standard member ll. By pressing the legs of member II together such hinge pins may be readily inserted in and removed from the hinge bearngs` A stop or rest for holding the funnel in upright position is provided by inclined portions 2l integral with the upper part of the legs of standard member l I, such stop portions being engageable With side 15 of the funnel as shown in Fig. 3. Further stop portions or rests 22 and 23 are formed by lateral bends in the legs of member I l, intermediate portions 21, and hinge pins IS and 20, which engage the upper area of funne side to support the funnel in inverted and preferably slightly inclined position as shown in Fig. 2.

The lower end of the funnel is provided with an inwardly curving lip 24 as shown in Figs. 4

funnel or swinging movement of the funnelupwardly out of the bag after filling. The amount of inturn of lip 24 need not be great but must be sufficient in relating to the swinging radius above the hinge axis to assure clearance of the funnel bottom edge on the side of the funnel opposite the hinge axis.

In using the filling device of the invention the funnel :o will be swung to inverted position and a bag C to be filled telescoped over the lower portion as shown in Fig. 2. The bag may be preliminarily housed in a cardboard carton (not shown) or the same may be inserted in such a carton after filling. When the bag has been correctly applied to the funnel the two are swung to upright position as shown in Fig. 3 so that the bag rests on base !3 beside the standard. Members il and !2 of the standard may be telescopically adjusted vertically according to the length of the bag so that the bag is supported by the base and the mouth of the funnel extends a sufficient distance into the mouth of the bag to support it in upright position.

A receptacle R containing the food to be packaged and frozen is disposed upon the base [3 on the opposite side of the standard from the bag and food therefrom is ladled into the funnel until bag C has been filled to the proper level. The funnel is then swung upwardly out of the mouth of the bag as indicated in Fig. 4 and back to its inverted position shown in Fig. 2. The angular offset provided by stop portions 2l of standard member H serve to locate the top of the funnel in transversely spaced relation to the vertical line of the standard. By placing receptacle R close to the standard any residual food in the inverted funnel may drain back into the receptacle preparatory to the next bag filling operation.

The mouth of the filled bag C is collapsed and heat is applied to provide a hermetical seal. By reason of the manner of mounting the bag in the carton, the swinging movement of the funnel out of the bag after filling and the inturned bottom lip on the funnel there is no danger that food will accidentally soil the mouth of the bag. A proper seal throughout the dimensions of the bag mouth is therefore possible. The bag is now installed in a cardboard carton if this has not been done previously and the packaged food is ready for freezing. It will be apparent that the filling device is extremely simple and admirably suited for bag filling Operations in the manner explained. After such Operations are completed the device may be disassembled into its separate parts as shown in Fig. 8 and packed in a small box or other container for future use.

The detailed Construction of my improved filling device here illustrated and described may be vared considerably. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined from the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container filling device comprising a base, an extensible standard comprising a hollow lower standard member of relatively flat cross-section upstanding from the base, an upper wire standard member formed With spaced legs integrally connected at their lower ends and making slidable fitting engagement with the inner surface of the hollow lower standard member and having integral transversely extending hinge pins at their upper ends, a funnel and hinge bearings on one side of the funnel receiving said hinge pins and mounting the funnel'on the standard for vertical swinging movement.

2. A container filling device according to claim 1 Wherein the wire upper standard member has bent portions forming stops adapted to support the funnel in upright position on one side of the standard and in inverted position on the other side of the standard.

CHARLES P. CAMPBELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 129,633 Wasson et al. July 16, 1872 156,506 Smith Nov. '3, 1874 216,367 Allison June 10, 1879 247220 Smith Sept. 20, 1881 %1,007 Wilhelm July 23, 1907 %3,696 Manson May 30, 1911 1,627,652 Kornicker et al. May 10, 1927 1,830,644 Dietsch Nov. 3, 1931 1,913,112 Kronquest et al. July 11, 1933 ,2,047,075 Kremen July 7, 1936 2,524243 Wicklund Oct. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 111,206 Australia Aug. 15, 1940 

